The Unbeliever’s Story (2)

Anne had been unwavering until just moments ago.

Even if she was frightened, she hadn’t yielded.

The priests knew this better than anyone. They were experts at discerning whether a person had been broken or not.

But suddenly Anne promises to cooperate. She submits and bows her head to beg for forgiveness.

“…What are your intentions?”

Quadro flashes eyes full of suspicion. The priests standing behind him also clearly don’t believe her.

“A-actually…”

The giant priests surrounding Anne and her sibling. After briefly looking around at them, Anne continues speaking.

“Actually… I met a very strange existence.”

“A strange existence.”

“Yes. It was… very large. And red…”

Large and red. The priests look at each other. Cardinal Kailum, who sent them to this place. They recall the words he emphasized again and again.

“If it’s an evil existence, eliminate it. If it’s truly the origin of the Phoenix, secure it.”

“Cardinal Kailum certainly said those words.”

It was similar to what was witnessed on the island.

They heard it saved the dying Crown Princess. It was a serious illness that no treatment could cure.

There’s only one existence in the world that could heal such a thing. The Phoenix. The bird that burns with flames for its entire life.

“Tell us in detail.”

“I, I thought it was God’s apostle. Many good things happened after I met it…”

“Are you saying it never harmed you?”

Anne nods her head.

“…Brother Martin.”

Martin, who had stepped back, approaches again. He grasps Anne’s hand and opens his eyes without pupils.

“Is that really true, Sister Anne?”

“Yes. It’s true. I met a large, red existence, and I thought it was sent by God.”

“Why did you hide this fact from us?”

“Well…”

When she hesitates to answer, the priests flash frightening looks. It’s a threat that things won’t go well if she doesn’t confess everything.

“Actually, the priests were so scary. I thought… they might not be priests…”

“Blasphemous! How dare you question the sanctity of the Order!”

“Brother Quadro. That child might have been corrupted by an evil existence and is lying. How about we purify her instead?”

Purification means only one thing. Burning at the stake. Punishment by making clean with fire. At this, Anne hugs Rone and shrinks back.

“Quiet.”

Quadro dismisses such opinions from the priests. If it were a lie, Martin would have detected it first. But he’s just staring at Anne without saying anything.

“I see, so that’s how it was.”

Rather, he even smiles as if pleased. “I’ll ask again. So Sister Anne really encountered that giant, red existence?”

“I’m certain.”

“And it wasn’t an evil existence either?”

“From what I could see, it wasn’t… but it might be different when the priests see it.”

That’s enough. Martin released Anne’s hand. It’s different from before. Her skin didn’t turn red.

“Everything is true.”

“…Really, Brother Martin?”

“At least from what I can see.”

She’s not deceiving them with evil intentions. However, she honestly revealed everything she knew. Now that they know this fact, they can’t pressure her anymore.

“Let’s stop here, brothers and sisters.”

Eida is the first to stop the priests.

She’s been one who hasn’t hidden her uncomfortable feelings from the beginning. Other priests tried to object to her actions.

But there’s neither reason nor justification for that. If it’s not a lie, they shouldn’t intimidate her.

“Sister Anne. Then can you guide us to the place where you saw that existence?”

When Quadro asks this, Anne answers that it’s possible. She even adds that she could go right now.

“No. Not now.”

The sun will set soon. Darkness is the world of evil things. Just in case that existence might be something sinister. It’s advantageous to go during a time overflowing with God’s will.

“Tomorrow at dawn. Guide us when the sun rises.”

“Y-yes. I definitely will.”

So now, won’t you please leave our house? When Anne asks this, Quadro firmly refuses. The reason was that it would be troublesome if they ran away during the night.

“We’ll stay here tonight.”

“What? Our house can’t accommodate the priests…!”

“We don’t need meals.”

“We’re accustomed to asceticism.”

The priests all kneel in unison.

“We don’t need a place to sleep either.”

“We’ll offer prayers.”

They close their eyes and begin reciting prayers.

Priests filling the narrow house. The two siblings turn pale at this sight.

“…Sigh.”

A priest who hasn’t knelt yet. Eida. She passes by her colleagues and approaches Anne. She bows her head slightly and conveys her feelings.

That she’s sorry. To endure it for just a moment. It won’t be long, so please bear with it for just today.

“Sister Eida. What are you doing?”

“I apologize.”

At Quadro’s words, Eida also kneels. Then she recites prayers, leaving only Anne and Rone.

‘What exactly are you trying to do, Red Bird…?’

The owner of the voice that can no longer be heard. Anne looked out the window with a worried expression.

“Sister Anne.”

“Mmm…”

“Sister Anne.”

She barely opens her eyes at the voice calling her. In front of her sits the priest called Eida.

“Please get up. You must guide us.”

“Ah…”

Anne barely moves her stiff body. She had dozed off in the corner while hugging her sibling all night.

Twelve priests had entered the originally small house. Even though they huddled together in one place, kneeling and offering prayers. Still, with more people, the lack of space was a fact.

“S-sister.”

“Stay still, Rone. Sister will be back soon.”

She gets up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Looking around, the inside of the house is empty.

It seems the priests are waiting outside. Eida appears to have come back in to wake her.

“Guide us.”

At Quadro’s words, Anne moves forward. Since it’s early dawn, there are hardly any people around.

“Sister Anne. Where did you say you saw that existence?”

“The lake a bit away from the village. I saw it there.”

“A lake.”

The priests briefly exchange opinions with each other.

At dawn. Not a cave where darkness lingers, but a lake. Neither the time nor space where evil things can run rampant. At this level, it really might be the origin of the Phoenix.

‘Phoenix? Origin? What do those words mean?’

For Anne, who heard his identity from him, these are incomprehensible words. But she had no desire to correct that part. She just needs to do exactly what she heard yesterday.

The twelve priests, led by Anne, headed to the lake. Some recited prayers along the way.

After some time passed, just as the sun was rising.

“Here it is.”

Anne finally points ahead, having arrived at a lakeside.

“Hmm.” “It’s a wonderful place.”

It’s a wide lake. The water is clear and clean. The surroundings are quiet. After briefly looking around, Quadro gazes at Anne.

“Now what should we do?”

“P-pardon?”

“If you met that existence here, don’t you also know how to summon it?”

I didn’t hear that far?! Just as Anne was flustered and stammering.

A strong wind blows from somewhere. The strange thing is that there’s no cold air.

The wind is strong, but it’s not the bitter northern wind. It’s a warm breeze never felt anywhere before.

“What on earth is this?”

“What is this wind?”

Just as even the priests are confused by this situation.

I heard you were looking for me.

Suddenly, some voice penetrates their minds. It seems like a thin, beautiful voice. It also seems like a deep resonance.

‘What is this?!’

‘Is it God?!’

Everyone panics and looks around. Then they feel a presence and look up at the sky.

“…Ah.”

A red bird staying in the sky, flapping its wings. It’s huge. Overwhelming. And brilliant. Just looking at it gives a crushing feeling.

Such an existence has come right above them. Yet none of them noticed anything.

“Brothers and sisters!”

At Quadro’s shout, the priests prepare for battle. Whether it’s an evil existence or not doesn’t matter at this moment.

Their instincts are crying out. That thing is dangerous. If they don’t resist, they’ll be forced to bow their heads. The very foundation of the faith that led them will be shaken!

“Wicked thing! I’ll immediately… Keu, keuaak!”

The priest who had intimidated Anne the most collapses. His skin turns red and blotchy as if burned.

“Heuueok!”

The one who reads people’s hearts. Martin. He begins bleeding from both eyes.

“How dare you harm the brothers…!”

Quadro draws forth divine power. Soon a pure white spear is created in his hand.

He’s someone who fought evil existences his entire life. He’s faced countless hardships and trials. But he overcame everything.

“Today will be the same! God is with us!”

He throws the spear with all his might. Or rather, tried to throw it.

――Psssss!

“Wh-what is this?!”

The spear of light turns to ash and crumbles. It had pierced through all evil things, but this time it couldn’t.

“N-no good. Brothers and sisters! Wake her up!”

The priests hurriedly remove someone’s robe.

A woman who only offers prayers even in this situation. Then she slowly opens her eyes at the priests’ call.

“Sister Helica! Please! It’s an existence we cannot handle! We need your power. God’s help is needed!”

The first among the twelve priests. Helica. Her identity is God’s vessel.

――Shaaaa!!

Light dwells in Helica’s body. At this sight, the priests offer prayers. Quadro doesn’t doubt victory.

“Oh! God! Come before us!”

“Come to us!”

“Descend to this land and defeat your servant’s enemy!” “Defeat them!”

It’s not because it’s evil. It’s not because it causes harm. They just instinctively avoid it. Distance themselves from it.

Like humans who can’t live without the sun. But can’t face it directly.

The light grows stronger. Helica moves slowly. Her steps are God’s steps. Her gestures are God’s commands.

Great existence. Please save us. Rescue your pitiful servants from this trial…

――Thud.

“…Huh?”

“Wh-what?”

The priests had to doubt their own eyes.

Helica had collapsed. Their god had disappeared.